France’s EPNER flight-test school is gradually bringing a modified Airbus H160 into its training programme, Airbus outlined in an update published on 5 October. The work connects today’s training fleet with preparations for future military helicopter programmes.
Based at Istres within the French defence procurement agency, DGA, the school trains personnel for experimental flying and aircraft evaluation. Its intensive programme combines 400 hours of theory with more than 100 hours of flight testing.
The helicopter used for this work is a civil-certified H160 fitted with a dedicated test installation in the rear cabin. Airbus and DGA teams jointly developed the equipment and its integration.
Airbus says the newer avionics widen the training syllabus, while predictive aircraft data support maintenance planning. The school also sees the platform as preparation for systems associated with France’s H160M Guépard programme. The update describes ongoing integration at EPNER; it does not announce an H160M delivery or operational entry.